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My chickens are still laying, but they're not as productive as they should be this time of year. Could it be the extreme temps that we've seen this month? I haven't changed their diet or anything like that. What can I do to fix this?

I've had my original Craftsman drill for over 15-years now, but they no longer make the batteries, so I'm going to have to move on. I've already tried another Craftsman, and it was a big disappointment. I've tried a Black and Decker and the battery on it is laughable. Please let me know if...

If some one-year-old hens are used to having a rooster around, is it a bad idea to add them to an established flock that doesn't have a rooster?

I have a microwave in the break room at work that keeps getting wet inside. At first I thought the employees were overfilling their dishes and not cleaning it up, but they swear that's not the case. What else could it be?

Mine is a doozy. The in-laws were due to visit us today on short notice, so my son, husband, and I started rushing about to tidy up. I was handing out the marching orders which might have included, "remember guys, we're just going for the illusion of clean and tidy, so don't get hung up in one...

My youngest goat developed an allergy that caused him to lose some hair on his back and neck. Unfortunately, this area looks pretty sunburned now. We have ample shade, but I wonder if I should start applying sunscreen to the bare areas until his hair grows back. What do you think? Is it...

My flowers are coming along nicely. That's the main crop that I sell, so I'm happy about that. I also sell fresh vegetables when I have them, and my asparagus is doing good, but everything else seems to be growing slowly. Of course, it doesn't help that I check several times a day. Maybe I'm...

I got some advice here about attracting bats to my property in order to get rid of the heavy mosquito population. Well, I bought a bat house from a conservation group, but I still don't have any bats. Any tips for getting the creatures to take up residence here? I'd advertise the vacancy, but...

What do you guys think is eating up my crop of hostas? I see no bugs around, but something is making holes in the leaves. The leaves aren't skeletal, so that rules out hornworms and caterpillars. The leaves look beautiful until the bug gets at them, so that rules out nematodes. They aren't...

Our spacing is way off this year, and I'd like to fill in the big gaps with another edible because otherwise I'm just wasting compost, water, and other resources. Which edibles grow fairly low to the ground and mature quickly? Radishes are the only option I can think of.

My home has amazing curb appeal. I have a large fountain that birds flit about. There's a lovely shaded patio for entertaining. I have luscious flowers, shrubs, and trees that all look as if they were kissed by Mother Nature herself. Why, this place could be featured in a magazine - until...

Several months ago I purchased a Sunshine GardenHouse kit from Home Depot. I've been using it for a while now and I'm deeply disappointed in the greenhouse. I'm past the return date or I'd absolutely send it back. It's poorly made and constructed with cheap materials. It was impossible to...

I gave my employees a fairly generous COVID benefits package that allowed them to get tested for the viruses and to quarantine as necessary while still getting paid. They did not have to use vacation or sick days for it either. However, since vaccinations are free and readily available in my...

Has anyone here tired a pet hair repellant like Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard dryer sheets or any other brand? I groom my dogs and cats and I vacuum regularly, but I still tend to have pet fur on my clothing. I have to keep a lint roller in my car to make myself presentable in public.

Some plants are said to have mosquito repelling properties. How effective are they really? If you've had success with one of those plants, please let me know which one did the trick. Our mosquito population has exploded this year, or at least that's how it feels to me.

I'm an organic grower and I believe all my neighbors are too, if the state of their yard is anything to go by. I think I'm going to try my hand at beekeeping. What's a reliable source for bees and the necessary gear?

Why aren't we all raising honey bees and harvesting their honey to go along with our farming practices? We all need pollinators to be successful. I'm a florist who grows my own flowers. You would think that since flowers and honey bees go together that most flower farmers would also keep...

Is there a way to create a temporary hem on a garment? I bought some convertible hiking pants that are slightly too long, but if I get them hemmed, they won't be convertible pants anymore. All I can find is Stitch Witch, but I believe it's permanent.

Do you require your employees to get their vaccinations? If so, which ones do you expect them to get? My understanding is that it's legal to require them, but that you have to offer exemptions for certain things too. I wonder if many employees opt for the exemption. It wouldn't be hard to...

During the last growing season, I definitely played it safe by growing what I knew would flourish and sell. I was mainly concerned about the coronavirus pandemic and just keeping the business afloat at that time. I know we're not out of the woods yet with the virus, so I'm not sure whether to...